WBB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Nice comeback after Saturday's tough loss as Trinity eased past homestanding UMHB 74-61 Sunday night.   Maggie Shipley had her best game since transferring in last year with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists (all Trinity career highs), Hailey Coleman, solid as always, added 16 and 8 before fouling out late, and Trinity got double figures off the bench from three players, Maggie Robbins (14, career high for the second straight game), Carly Leong (13, Trinity career high), and Kelly Simmons (12).   The win came despite the Tigers struggling from beyond the arc (4-21, 19%).

Up next is the long bus ride to Abilene for games at Hardin-Simmons (2-0) and McMurry (0-2).  The Cowgirls, ranked 14th in the initial D3hoops rankings, have road wins over TLU and Schreiner to open the season.  McMurry is 0-2 with narrow road losses to the same two teams. 

[Jester1390]

Think you will be seeing more of the low percentages during course of season for teams with the line being moved back

[Ron Boerger]

Think you will be seeing more of the low percentages during course of season for teams with the line being moved back

No doubt - though I would hope that Trinity does better as the season goes on.

Here's a story on the UMHB game from the good folks at Tru to the Cru.

[jekelish]

Should be a good one in Sherman tonight as UT-Dallas comes to town. Polly and the Comets have always been a pretty big thorn in Austin College's side, historically. Of course, they've been a thorn in the sides of a lot of teams, but they've always been one of the toughest opponents for the 'Roos. It's a nice friendly rivalry, with Polly and her assistant both being AC alums.

[jekelish]

Very, very rough shooting night for the 'Roos, who got a lot of good, clean looks from their shooters but they just couldn't connect. Can't imagine they'll have too many games shooting that poorly moving forward.

UTD is also very, VERY good. I don't think they're just the No. 15 team in the country; they looked like a legit top 10 team to me. They've got size, they're physical, they've got some shooters, the get after it on the glass, and they're SUPER deep. For reference, Jordan Rudd came off the bench for them. We'll see if she works her way into the starting lineup, but just to give you a sense of how deep they are. They've got several D2 and JUCO transfers, and right now if I were a betting man, I'd pick them to win the ASC this season. They're REALLY good.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity drops another heartbreaker to a ranked ASC opponent, 65-63 at #14 HSU.  The Cowgirls hit a three that provided the final margin with six seconds remaining and Trinity's three at the buzzer was no good.  Ashlyn Milton had 16 points to lead the Tigers; Hailey Coleman added 18 boards.

[Ron Boerger]

For the second straight week, the back half of an away weekend proves more fruitful for Trinity as they dominated McMurry 102-50.  Maggie Shipley continued her fine early-season form with 19 points on 9/14 shooting in just 23 minutes - another Trinity career high and one of five Tigers in double figures.

Next up for the Traveling Tigers: a weekend in Pacific Grove, Oregon for games against Linfield and home standing Pacific.  They won't play again for nearly a month when they visit Sherman and Shreveport for the opening weekend of SCAC play.

[TroyP]

Was exciting to get to see my daughter score her first 8 collegiate points in that game yesterday!

[gordonmann]

Congrats to your daughter! Hopefully the first eight of many.

I've watched Trinity a couple times so far and been impressed, even in the losses to ETBU and HSU. I love Coleman's game and Milton and Shipley are good, too. With Austin maybe rebuilding a little bit and Colorado College graduating their top player, who will challenge them for the conference?

[Ron Boerger]

Wow, I composed a long reply and was told I didn't have permission.

First, congrats to TroyP and his daughter!

As far as the SCAC, it's likely the same three, Trinity, CC, Austin in that order (at least at present).   CC may have lost Gertz but the players they bring back are more than solid (including the conference newcomer of the year who almost shot them back into the championship singlehandedly).   As they figure out what they have in that huge freshman class I expect them to be the usual pest threat they normally are.  I expect Austin to start figuring things out, too.   TLU is figuring things out with a new coach after Mel Dixon retired. 

Key for Trinity (other than finding a three point stroke) is getting more consistency out of the players you mention.  Coleman is solid, Milton and Shipley have run hot and cold during their careers.   Watching them they definitely are ballplayers but consistent production have been elusive (to be fair this is Shipley's first regular season at Trinity).   I also appreciate what Kelly Simmons can bring to the court.   But you know Trinity likes to press a *lot* so they'll put a lot of players on the court who can do that.   Losing Jordan Rudd to UT-D is a big loss there.

[Ron Boerger]

Oh, and then there's the "'other" Maggie, Maggie Robbins, this week's SCAC POTW.  https://trinitytigers.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/releases/20211115vib1ag

[TroyP]

Thanks guys! While Trinity doesn't have a team full of familiar names and they are dealing with a bunch of injuries, I think they have a chance to do some special things this year. Maggie R (SCAC player of the week) is a very suitable replacement of Jordan Rudd, Maggie S started out the ETBU game a little slow, but since the UMHB game, she has played lights out, she can flat out get to the rim. Ashlyn Milton is quietly putting up double figures, Ava L has started to find her stroke from 3 point range, Carley L has scored double digits in 3 of the 4 games off the bench. The post players Hailey C and Kelly S have been solid down low even knocking down some outside shots in big spots. Bailey T (Freshman) has been seeing time off the bench band has a really really nice jump shot. My daughter and a couple others saw playing time in the win over McMurry and all contributed with the entire squad that was dressed for the game scored.

[jekelish]

Tough start to the season for Austin College, as they've really struggled to shoot the ball so far, which is surprising since they've got some of their better shooters just ice cold through three games (for example, Sarah Gwin shot 42.3% from three last season; she's 0-15 to start the year). It doesn't help that they've played some solid teams, specifically UTD and Rhodes, and have two more big ones (Whitman, ETBU) coming up. If they can't get their shooting sorted out, they're quite possibly looking at a 1-4 start, and have had a couple key injuries that haven't helped matters.

[Ron Boerger]

Interesting weekend in Oregon for Trinity and Colorado College.  Yesterday CC took on 3-0 Pacific, the host, falling 81-62.  Trinity breezed past 0-6 Linfield, 92-68.

Today the teams swapped opponents.  CC had to go to OT before overcoming Linfield 82-70.  Trinity led by double digits around halftime but had to hold on to beat Pacific 72-69.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity finally returned to the court after nearly a month away and looked like it early before recovering to defeat Austin 70-58.   Kacie West put the 'Roos on her shoulders early and scored all of her 11 points in the first period as the home team rushed out to a 22-18 lead.   In the second quarter Trinity turned up the defensive effort, holding the 'Roos to nine points.   It was Carly Leong's turn to be the difference maker, scoring ten points as the Tigers regained the lead for good late in the quarter and took a 34-31 lead into the break.  The visitors increased their lead throughout the third quarter, led by nine and seven points respectively from Maggie Shipley and Ashlyn Milton, but Sarah Putnicki (ten) and Carrie Johnson (seven) kept Austin within striking distance as it was 58-50 after three.   The 'Roos would close to within five early on a Lauren Traylor jumper but the Tigers pulled away after that.

Ashlyn Milton led all scorers with 21 including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and Carly Leong had her best outing as a Tiger with 20 off the bench.  Maggie Shipley added 15 and Kelly Simmons had 12 rebounds.   Austin was led by Sarah Putnicki who scored 13, also off the bench, and Natalie McCoy had six assists.

The 'Roos were determined to keep Hailey Coleman (six points on 3-of-7) from being a factor, sending two or three players at her whenever she received the ball down low.